[right]Part 2 of the Collab[/right]

Lo continued to frown then looked past Sar’s body and toward the medical hut. She debated on sticking around or heading to grab her notes. 

"Before Master Rothul arrived, we were losing entire villages to gas attacks. Half of my village had disappeared after we had left on a hunting trip. When we returned and they were all gone, we found neighboring villages in the same predicament. I rounded up as many remaining as I could and we banded together." Sar explained, thinking over the last few months, even before Dominik and Lo had arrived, and how hard it had been on his people.

Cora was moved.[color=00CED1] “I am truly sorry for your loss. I can see why Dominik wanted to help the sheer audacity of someone to attack a village with poison gas… I cannot fathom it.”[/color]

“It wasn’t poison, it was knocked out gas. It left a nasty headache afterwards too.” Lo corrected Cora without thinking, her voice still gentle. 

Cora bit her lip and looked between Lo and Sar.[color=00CED1] “Slavery.”[/color] Shaking her head Cora looked at Sar.[color=00CED1] “I have made Dominik and Lo more comfortable and they are healing but they need rest. I know this is unprecedented but until they are healed fully I would like to assist in their duties. I know you do not know me but I would be happy to answer any questions that you have. You can ask me anything.”[/color] There was a determined set to her chin and her silver eyes held Sar’s blue ones.

"You aren't a complete stranger to me, Cora. Dominik spoke of you a few times. We often sit at the center and talk late into the night. He's tried to tell me about his past, but it's hard for him. So I share what I can about mine. He knows he can trust me but it seems there's a lot of pain in bringing up old memories. Lately we've talked about other things. Friends, family. He has those very close to him that he cares for. You were often a topic when it was brought up." Sar explained, smiling softly at Cora as he spoke. 

"I trust your judgement and your skills. Just as I do Dominik, Lo, and the other Jedi. We're grateful to have your assistance."

Cora did not know what to say. She blushed and smiled.[color=00CED1] “You have me at a disadvantage Sar. I hope that it was not my awkward teenage years. I assure you those are behind me. He is like a father to me. I-I did not realize how much I missed him until it was almost too late.”[/color]

Looking back over her shoulder at Dominik a tear rolled down her cheek. She had not realized she was crying. Quickly she swiped it away and turned back to Sar.[color=00CED1] “Dominik needs to stay off his feet and rest for a week. I have healed him but he needs to take it easy and let his body finish off the healing. Lo needs three days of sleep or she will push herself beyond tired and make a mistake that she will never forgive herself for. If they want to continue being useful they will stay in bed. I have drastic measures that I do not want to take but I will if need be.”[/color]

Sar laughed heartily as Cora mentioned her teenage years. "I promise you Master Jedi, it was not those. We talked about a lot. I respect his boundaries though. There are topics that I would bring up, about the war or other hard times we've been through. Sometimes I could get him to talk but more often than not he'd grow quiet."

Sar glanced over towards Dominik, able to see him past the tents and across the cavern, sitting next to the collapse as he normally did every morning. "I'm glad you're here Cora. I think he needs a little more firm encouragement. More than Lo and I combined could give him." He said, moving aside again as the same children from before ran back through, giggling and laughing. "I'll help keep an eye on him, and make sure he takes it easy. You have my word."

Cora blushed as Sar said her name.[color=00CED1] “Cora will do nicely. I am not a Master. The war was... Is… like every other. Nightmarish to be the least eloquent.”[/color] Cora smiled at the children. They always seemed to touch a place deep in her heart.

Reaching out she lightly touched Sar’s arm with just her fingertips. She looked up at him smiling.[color=00CED1] “Thank you Sar. For more than you know. Now to deal with the two most ornery patients in the whole of the Order. I shall see you about midday.”[/color] She let her fingers slide off his arm and strode over to Dominik.

Sar smiled and bowed his head at Cora as she left. He turned then, taking his empty bowl and moving to help those who still needed their morning meal.

Lo’s eyes had found the ground during their conversation. Admirable or not, she didn’t feel proud of her failure to reach her master. At the mention of two ornery patients, she felt the comment referred to her master and her. She didn’t look forward to the next three days of sitting around while others did her job. 

Seeing Sar busy and Cora already moving toward Dom, she debated on the wisdom of retrieving her notes. Cora would need them since the wrong combination of plants would only waste supplies. Lo sighed again and followed her logic. She turned on her heel and shifted her path to the medical tents, the last place she left them.  

~~~

Sitting in front of the rock collapse, knees folded and his hands resting on his knees, the older Jedi often fell into a deep meditation while he sat there. Today seemed different though, for he couldn't lose himself in his thoughts as he normally did. He sensed as Cora came near, but chose to say nothing just yet. 

Cora sat down facing Dominik. Waiting patiently was something she was used to doing. She watched him with a healer's eye, looking for signs of strain and backsliding in his progress. She saw none and turned her observations over to more emotional territory. 

[color=00CED1]"Talked about me did you? To a single, attractive, assertive male? I quite remember a time that you were not so keen on my association with the opposite sex. And do not pretend to not hear me."[/color] Cora cast a raised eyebrow and a blank look at Dominik. 

Eyes closed, but an eyebrow raised, Dominik waited for Cora to finish speaking before he let out an exasperated sigh. “I spoke to him of fond memories and good friends.” Dominik replied, opening his eyes to look at Cora before they closed again. “Sar is a good friend, Cora. He has made talking easier, if only by a little.” 

Nodding her head Cora looked over at Sar across the cavern.[color=00CED1] "I am glad you have him. Although it does sting a bit that you have not spoken with your former Padawan with such freedom. But you were always too protective about certain things. You might find that the people walking beside you wish to assist you with the burden you shoulder. Indeed they would relish the chance to become even closer to you."[/color]

Rising smoothly Cora shook out her skirts.[color=00CED1] "You are on bed rest for five days, argue with me or do something taxing and see how fast I use restraints."[/color]

“Those walking beside me, [i]especially[/i] my padawan, do not need to hear me sulk over the guilt that I carry.” Dominik replied, eyes still closed as he spoke. “And I don’t need bed rest, Cora. I’ve been resting long enough.” He challenged, eyes opening now and his posture relaxing. He rested an elbow on one of his knees, one hand moved up to rub his eyes. 

“I don’t need bedrest, nor do I need to share with others the grief I hold. I just-” Dominik sighed again, continuing to rub his eyes as his thoughts raced.

Cora's eyes snapped silver fire.[color=00CED1] "You do. On both counts. You close off on her and so help me Dominik Rothul I will not care if you are on the Council or not I will make you regret it. She is not half as persistent as I was at her age. You push her away and she will resent you for it and you will break her. Let her do what you would not and will not let me do. Let her in. Everyone needs someone."[/color]

It took everything Cora had to close off her emotions and push them back down. Seeing Dominik was joy and sorrow for her. She constantly felt like she'd never lived up to him. She'd analytically dissected the feelings long ago and buried them only to have them rise again. Ironic that she should lecture him on repression or letting people in. 

Lo reminded Cora of herself at that age. She hoped that Lo had an easier time with Dominik than Cora had. It was worse that she was supposed to stand by and watch it happen again. Well she had decided that she was stepping in. 

The Master Jedi would not say it, he could not. But he was afraid. Afraid of letting Lo in and then losing her, just as he had lost Evin. Just as he had lost Sela, and Xid, and so many others who he would never see again, who he could never speak to again. The older man sat there, slouched with his head rested in his hand, almost as if all of his strength had left him. He thought that by not letting anyone in, he could prevent himself from losing anyone, and prevent others from the pain they may feel should they lose him. It seemed though that if he shut Lo out, he would lose her, and lose their bond in a way he didn’t think possible. 

He said nothing. For many long, silent moments the old man sat there, breathing in and out as he kept his emotions down, but he hid his face from Cora. Slouched over, head resting in one hand, he wasn’t sure if he was ready to release his grief and let others in. 

Turning in a swirl of skirts Cora retreated before she dashed herself on the sharp rocks that were Dominik’s stubbornness. If it would have done her any good she would have mentioned that he was special to so many people that, while they may not number as the stars, they were still countless. She had waited so long for his approval and to have it when he thought he was dying, that was upsetting. 

No that was not correct. She wanted his love, approval was secondary. She looked at Dominik as a father. After all he had been the one to save her.